Slug casting machine



R. R. MEAD,

sum CASTING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1936 Sept. 17, 1940,

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*s' L IN N MENTOR Sept. 17, 1940. R, R MEAD 2,214,887

SLUG CASTING MACHINE ATTORNEKJ' Sept. 17, 1940. R R, MEAD 2,214,887

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed May as, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet s [N VENTOR VA rfomvzmf Patented Sept. 17, 1940 SLUG GASTING MACHINE Richard R. Mead, Queens Village, N. Y., assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application May 23, 1936, Serial No. 81,394

11 Claims.

This invention relates to slug casting machines, such as Linotype machines ofthe general organization represented in United States Letters Patent No. 436,532, to O. Mergenthaler, wherein a composed line of matrices is presented to the face of a slotted mold between a pair of vise jaws, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug against the matrices which produce the type charactersthereon, and the slug thereafter eject- ,ed from the mold between a pair of trimming knives which trim the lateral-faces of the slug prior to the depositing of the latter in the galley.

More particularly, the present improvements deal with devices whereby the printing'edges of the slugs beyond the type characters thereon may be cast at a predetermined level below the printing face of the type characters, in order that a zinc or other form of printing plate containing cuts or the like, which must stand at the same type 20, height as the characters on the slugs when assembled or made up in the printing forms, may be mounted directly on the slugs, thereby avoiding the necessityof milling off or otherwise reducing the height of theblank portions on the 25, slugs to bring them to the proper height for such purpose.

In the specific embodiment illustrated, the slotted mold, adjacent its front face, is formed with a pair of faces flaring outwardly from andin- 30, tersecting the side walls of the mold slot, and the vise jaws which during the slug casting operation close the mold slot at the front along those portions corresponding to the depressed portions of the slug are each formed with a long rib which 35,,projects into the mold slot by an amount equal to the distance that the depressed portion of the slug is intended to be below the base of the type characters, these jaw ribs being formed with angularly disposed faces complementary to the 0 flaring faces of the mold and adapted to make fluid-tight contact with said mold faces.

Preferably the tapered ribs are carried by plates detachably. secured to the vise jaws; in order that they may be readily removed and replaced by other ribs capable of cooperating with molds of different sizes. The detachable plates have a loose or floating fit in the jaws, so that as the mold is moved forwardly'into contact with the line, the flaring faces of the mold, by their cooperation with the tapered ribs on the floating sections, will align the ribs accurately with the mold slot and bring about the metal-tight engagement required. In order to secure ameta'ltight engagement at the ends of the mold slot,

the intermediate liners, which, as'usual, space the body portion of the mold from the cap, are equipped at their inner edges adjacent the mold slot with narrow lips that engage tightly against the outer faces of the ribs associated with the vise jaws.

The ribs thatlenter the mold slot to produce the depressed portion of the slug could, of course, be presented by mold closing members other than the vise jaws, e. g. a quad block or quad matrices, but regardless of the form or character of the mold closing members, it will be understood that the angularly disposed faces'thereon, during the casting of the slug, are pressed into intimate contact with the fiaringfacesof the mold with a sort of wedging action or tapered fit to provide an effective seal for the mold cavity.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a portion of a slug casting machine equipped with the present improvements; 20

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the mold and the vise jaws, showing. the mold in engaging relation with the jaws, one of the jaws being'shown in longitudinal section to indicate details of construc tion;

Fig. 3 is a vertical'section through the mold, showing the latter in its engaging relation with a line of matrices and the vise jaws;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are vertical sections through the mold and one of the vise jaws, and illustrating the parts at difierent stages during the forward movement of the mold into contact with the jaws;

Fig. 7 is a side view, illustrating a slug cast with depressed portions at the ends; 35,

Fig. Sis a perspective view of a portion of a mold, illustrating the lip on a liner at the end of the mold slot for eifecting a tight engagement with the rib associated with each vise jaw;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the detachable plate that carries the tapered rib;

Fig; 10 is a plan View of the mold in the slug ejecting position, and illustrating the manner in which the slug is ejected between the trimming knives; and 51 accommodation of a zinc plate or cut, the line of matrices will of course be less than full length, and accordingly, one or both of the jaws will be moved inwardly until arrested by contact with the ends of the line, depending upon whether the depressed portion of the slug is to be formed at one end or the other or at both ends of the slug. In other words, the improvements are particularly applicable to a machine equipped with quadding and centering mechanism.

In order to effect the quadding or centering movement of the jaws A and B, the latter are carried by jaw supports A and B slidably mounted in guideways on the vise frame E (Fig. 3), and the quadding and centering movements are effected by means of a Vertical rod F (Fig. 1) slidably mounted in the vise frame E and connected to the respective jaws by levers A and B pivotally mounted as at A and B and which are formed with upper arms connected to the jaw supports by links A and B and which are also formed with horizontal arms extending inwardly and connected to the vertically movable rod F by means of pins j that extend into a collar F with which the rod is equipped at the top. The collar is adjustable by means (not shown) in order that either one or both of the levers can be operatively connected to the rod. The arrangement is such that, as the rod F is moved downwardly, one or both of the jaws, depending upon which of the levers is connected thereto, will be moved inwardly until arrested by the banking thereof against the composed line, whereupon the mold disc D will move forwardly to bring the mold C into engagement with the composed line and the jaw or jaws that have been moved inwardly, whereupon the casting operation will take place. Thereafter, the rod F moves upwardly to return the jaws to their positions of maximum separation, the mold disc rotating through three-quarters of a revolution to bring the mold into the slug ejecting position. Later on, the ejector blade G moves forward (Fig. 10) to force the slug out of the mold and between a pair of trimming knives H, which trim the lateral faces of the slug.

For further details of the quadding and centering mechanism, reference may be had to the Frolander U. S. patents, Nos. 1,949,302 and 1,971,400.

The improved mold (see Figs. 1 and 8) comprises a lower body portion C and an upper cap portion 0 which portions present respectively lower and upper parallel side walls 0 and c of the mold slot, and a pair of intermediate liners C the inner opposed faces of which define the end walls of the mold slot. Unlike the usual molds, the instant mold adjacent its frontface is formed with a pair of outwardly flaring faces 0 and c which intersect the parallel side walls 0 and c of the mold slot substantially on lines corresponding to the low quad or depressed blank portion of the slug. Also, unlike the usual liners, the instant liners C at the front terminate rearwardly of the mold face and also somewhat rearwardly of the lines of intersection of the flaring faces 0 and c with the side walls a and c and moreover the liners C adjacent their inner faces, are formed with forwardly projecting lips C the outer edges of which are relatively narrow 'and terminate at the lines of intersection previand C the upper surfaces of which cooperate with the lower projecting ears on the casting edges of the matrices during the alignment of the latter with the mold slot.

After a line has been located at the casting level, the vise jaws, singly or conjointly, depending upon whether the machine is set for a quadding or a centering operation, are moved inwardly until arrested by contact with the ends of the line. In Fig. 2, there is illustrated a condition wherein the machine is set for quadding with the right hand jaw. Thereafter, the mold C moves forwardly and the matrices aligned with the mold slot by the engagement of their lower ears with one or the other of the aligning surfaces presented by the grooves C and C depending upon whether the matrices are composed at the upper or lower level. That portion of the mold slot, which is not closed by the composed line of matrices, is closed by a rib J formed on a plate J with which each of the Vise jaws is equipped.

As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the ribs J are formed each with a pair of faces 7' and i disposed angularly with respect to the inner face of the jaw and a vertical rear face 7' intersecting said faces in a plane at right angles to the planes of the parallel side walls c and c of the mold slot. As will be seen, the rib J is in substantial alignment with the mold, but in order to insure that it properly enters the mold and effects a tight engagement therewith, the plate J which carries the rib has a free or floating fit with the vise jaw with which it'is associated. Since the plates J are the same for both jaws, except for one being after will be confined to one jaw.

As shown in Figs. 2, 4 to 6, and 9, the plate J 1 extends the full length of the vise jaw and is contained within a recess B formed 'in the rear or.

casting face of the jaw, it being noted (see Fig. 6) that during the casting operation the rear face of the plate is substantially flush with the rear face of the jaw. At the bottom of the recess 13- the jaw B is formed with a second longitudinal recess B which, at its opposite ends, presents relatively short dove-tail groove portionsB and B These dove-tail groove portions B and B are adapted to receive dove-tail tongue portions J and J respectively, formed on the inner or rear face of the plate J (Fig. 9). The dovetail tongue portions J and J are connected by, and in fact form a part of, a rectangular central portion J which serves to strengthen or reinforce the plate J in this intermediate region. According to this construction, the plate J may be attached to or detached from the jaw B by a slight endwise movement in opposite directions, the dove-tail tongue portions being adapted to enter the dove-tail groove portions by an endwise movement of the plate in a direction away from the line clamping face of the jaw, and being adapted to leave by a similar movement in the opposite.

direction. In this connection, 'it is pointed out that the dove-tail groove portion B is arranged at such a distance from the line clamping face of the jaw that, when the plate J has been attached to the jaw in the manner just described, its inner or line engaging end will be flush with that face of the jaw as shown in Fig. 2. It may also be noted that the recess B is provided with slightly raised. pads B .and 13 within the dovetail groove portions B? and B, respectively, these pads being machined'accurately to provide a solid seat for theplate J. in. the.vise,jaw'during -.the slug casting operation.

left and the other right, the description herein- The positioning of the plate J within the recess B is determined by a stoppin B which is arranged to en age. the outer end of the dove-tail tongue J when the plate is. attached to the jaw (see Fig. 2). The plate isthen lockedin this. position by ball detents B arranged at the base of the recess B and adapted to snap into holes or depressions J formed in the dove-tail tongue portions J and J of the plate. It will be understood that these ball detents, while exerting enough tension to hold the plate J in place, will yieldreadily when the plate ,is shifted endwise to detach it from the jaw.

As previously indicated, and as clearly depicted in Figs. 4 to 6 the plate J has a free or floating fit in the vise jaw so that it may partake of what in effect is a universal movement.

It will now be seen that, as the *Il'lOld C moves forwardly into contact with the-composed line, the rib J on therear face of the plate J will enter the mold slot and, as a result of the complementary character of the flaring faces 0 and o of the mold and the angularly. disposed faces 7' and 7' of the rib-5,,andby virtue also of the fact that the plate which carries the rib is freely fitted to the jaw, therib will. automatically be brought into perfect alignment with the mold slot and then, when the mold has completed its forward movement, effect a metal-tight seal therewith. A tight seal will also result at the ends of the mold slot, for here the lips C on the mold liners will engage tightly against the rear faces a of the ribs J. This seal is insured as a result of the narrow front edges of the lips C The slug in that portion thereof formed with type characters will be cast with a slight overhang, since the overall width of the mold slot at the face of the mold, i. e., the dimension between the outer edges of the flaring faces, is somewhat larger than the length of the routing notches measured along the casting edges of the matrices. This overhang, however, will present no difficulty, because it may be readily trimmed off when the slug is ejected from the mold and forced between the trimming knives H (see Fig. 10). The overhang just alluded to will be confined to that portion of the slug carrying the type characters, as the plates J will close the rout-- ing notches at the ends of the matrix line, while the intimate engagement between the bevelled faces of the ribs J and the flaring faces of the mold will prevent any escape of metal at these points.

A slug Y, formed in accordance with the invention and with the machine set for centering, is illustrated in Fig. 7. With such a setting, of course, the depressed or low quad, portions 1/ of the slug will be at both ends. The depth of the depressed portions is the distance y between the dotted lines, indicating the type height of the slug and the upper edge or quad line 1 of the slug. Actually, this distance is equal to the depth of the routing notches in the matrices plus the height of the rib J on the plate J since in ordinary work, where no ribs are used, the jaws themselves would close off the mold at the ends of the line, in which case, of course, there would be no recession of the slug'beyond the outer edges of the matrices.

The mold can be arranged to accommodate slugs of different sizes, merely by changing the intermediate liners C and by substituting a different rib carrying plate J to conform to the changed dimensions of the mold slot. Likewise, the jaws may be used with molds of usual constru i n b m i g t e rib es J and;

substituting similar plates without ribs.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by wa'yof example and in preferred form, and obviously many variations; and modifications may be made therein whi h will still be comprised within its spirit. It istg, be understood, therefore, that the invention is; not limited toany specific form or embodiment, except insofar. as such limitations are specified in the appended claims. I i i Having thus described my invention,- what I claim is:'

1. A slug casting machine including, in come, bination, a slotted mold and a member for. closing themold slot at the front for at least a pore, tionof its length, said member being arranged for a limited degree of free or floating universal, movement and being formed with an element adapted to enter the mold slot, said entering e'lement'and mold being so shaped as to movethe member to align the element accurately with the mold slot as the. mold is advanced into. con tact with the mold closing member. I e

2. A slug casting machine including, income bination, a slotted mold, and a member for ose. ing the mold slot at the front for at least apor tion" of its length, said member being. arranged fora limited degree of free orfloating universal movement and formed with a mold slot entering element, said entering element and mold having complementally formed flaring surfaces adapted as the mold is advanced into contact with the mold closing member to adjust said member to bring the element in proper alignment with the mold slot and to effect a metal-tight engagement therebetween.

3. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a slotted mold, a vise jaw adjustable longitudinally of the mold, and a free or floating rib capable of universal movement associated with the jaw and adapted to enter the mold slot for at least a portion of its length, said mold slot and rib being so formed as automatically to adjust the rib relatively to the vise jaw as the mold moves forwardly into contact with the casting face of the jaw into proper alignment with the mold slot and to effect a metal-tight engagement therewith.

4. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a slotted mold having faces flaring outwardly adjacent the front of the mold, a vise jaw adjustable longitudinally of the mold, and a rib associated with the jaw and freely movable with respect thereto, said rib having angularly disposed faces complementary to the flaring faces of the mold and adapted to enter'the mold slot for at least a portion of its length, the flaring faces on the mold and the angularly disposed faces on the rib cooperating as the mold moves forwardly into contact with the casting face of the jaw automatically to align the rib with the mold slot and to effect a metal-tight engagement therebetween.

5. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a slotted mold, a vise jaw adjustable longitudinally of the mold, a plate mounted on the vise jaw with a limited degree of free or floating universal movement, and a rib formed on said plate and adapted to enter the mold slot for at least a portion of its length, said mold and rib having complementally formed surfaces adapted as the mold moves forwardly into engagement with the casting face of the jaw to adjust the plate relatively to the jaw to bring the rib in proper alignment with the mold slot and to effect a metal-tight engagement therebetween. '6. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a mold having cap and body portions presenting the upper and lower side Walls of the mold slot, and intermediate liners defining the end walls'of the mold slot, a vise jaw adjustable ward, tightly to seal the mold slot at the end.

' 7. A'slug casting machine including, in combination, a mold having cap and body portions presenting the upper and lower side walls of the mold slot and formed with'faces flaring outward- 15* adjacent the front of the mold, intermediate 20 liners defining the end walls of the mold slot and having their front faces located rearwardly of said flaring portions, said liners being equipped with lips adjacent the ends of the mold slot and 2. extending outwardly to the rear edges of the flaring faces of the side walls of the mold slot, a pair of vise jaws adjustable longitudinally of the mold and having ribs associated therewith adaptedto enter the mold slot to produce low l quad portions on the slug, said ribs having faces complementary to the flaring faces at the mold and being adapted to engage the lips on the liners to close the mold slot at the ends.

8; A vice jaw for a slug casting machine equipped in its casting face with a detachable plate having a mold slot entering rib, said plate having connections with the vise jaw to permit it to partake of a limited degree of free or floating universal movement as said rib enters the mold slot;

9. A vise jaw for a slug casting machine formed with a recess in its casting face and provided in said recess with a detachable plate having a mold slot entering rib, said plate and jaw being formed with a pair of relatively short corresponding tongue and groove portions, whereby the plate may be inserted in the recess in the jaw and located properly in place by a relatively short longitudinal movement with respect to the jaw.

10. A vise jaw according to claim 9, provided with a banking stop adapted to cooperate with the detachable plate to determine its proper location in the jaw.

11. A vise jaw according to claim 9, equipped with a pair of spring pressed detents cooperating with corresponding recesses in the plate to hold the latter against endwise movement in the jaw.

RICHARD R. MEAD. 

